I know this is so last minute but... (balance bikes)

FeistyFille

Does anyone know where I can find some balance bikes locally?  My MIL has decided that's what she wants to get, but I haven't seen them at Walmart, Target, TRU, and there weren't any online at Academy.  Halp!

Also, if you happened to bookmark threads about balance bikes, could you please share that info too?

ETA: Would buying a regular children's bike and removing the pedals be a viable option?

mcurban

I'm pretty sure I've seen some at Kalidescope and Learning Express.

Also, there are many on Amazon that you can have here by Tuesday or Wednesday (w/ free shipping) if you use Prime (and if you don't have prime and want to go that option, shoot me an email and I'll give you my acct info).

MrsMillerTime

Costco had some a couple weeks ago, too.

MrsBeckO

Baby Earth had some last time we were there.

Emer

They have them at most of the bike shops, except Buck's. There is a neat store on Guadalupe, just south of campus and they have a bunch. 

joyco

Costco!  I got the boys some and they are only $28 apiece!

FeistyFille

I didn't see any at Costco today.    Wish I'd bought some months ago.

ali-1411

Layna has this one from Walmart.  $30 and you can get Site to Store

FeistyFille

MrsBeckO:

Baby Earth had some last time we were there.

Just looked on Baby Earth's website, and holy moly, the cheapest one is $100!

MC, I may be shooting you an email soon.

Sinafey

FeistyFille:

MrsBeckO:

Baby Earth had some last time we were there.

Just looked on Baby Earth's website, and holy moly, the cheapest one is $100!

MC, I may be shooting you an email soon.

You might want to call them.  I'm almost positive I saw one there around $50 a few days ago, and they have a $10 off $50 purchase coupon floating around from their Meet the Doulas night that I think is still good. 

txgrad

FeistyFille:

ETA: Would buying a regular children's bike and removing the pedals be a viable option?

Yes, and then you can put the pedals back on and have a real bike. Sheldon Brown's website says balance bikes "are a waste of time and money. You can achieve the same effect simply by unscrewing the pedals from a real bicycle."

https://sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html

fjaril

txgrad:

FeistyFille:

ETA: Would buying a regular children's bike and removing the pedals be a viable option?

Yes, and then you can put the pedals back on and have a real bike. Sheldon Brown's website says balance bikes "are a waste of time and money. You can achieve the same effect simply by unscrewing the pedals from a real bicycle."

https://sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html

I don't know who that is, but I love our balance bike. I know Michelle&Russ loves hers too. They hold up resale value too.

We both have Specialized which are from a proper bike company, not a toy company so they are at the 100$ish price point, but you get a very sturdy and repairable if it breaks bike. 

H is getting a two wheeler for Christmas after a year on the balance bike

AmethystBride

txgrad:

FeistyFille:

ETA: Would buying a regular children's bike and removing the pedals be a viable option?

Yes, and then you can put the pedals back on and have a real bike. Sheldon Brown's website says balance bikes "are a waste of time and money. You can achieve the same effect simply by unscrewing the pedals from a real bicycle."

https://sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html

While this is true, the problem we had was the smallest bike with pedals we could find was still too big for Griffin.  When we looked around at balance bikes, they all came in a wee size--perfect for our little man! 

:-)

txgrad

fjaril:

txgrad:

FeistyFille:

ETA: Would buying a regular children's bike and removing the pedals be a viable option?

Yes, and then you can put the pedals back on and have a real bike. Sheldon Brown's website says balance bikes "are a waste of time and money. You can achieve the same effect simply by unscrewing the pedals from a real bicycle."

https://sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html

I don't know who that is, but I love our balance bike. I know Michelle&Russ loves hers too. They hold up resale value too

My husband, the bike guy, said this morning, "You know he's dead right?" He agrees that removing the pedals from a bike has the same effect (unless the bike is too big.) We've got nothing against balance bikes here. We'll probably get one for our son when the time comes. 

FeistyFille

Thanks, everyone.  I ended up getting ybikes for the boys.  Hope they like them!